Big Helper!

I thought it would be Erik helping decorate, but Jakob wanted to help. We cut down an agave stalk and wrapped it with ribbon. Got too dark to show off the stalk, but will get a nice shot up tomorrow...Jakob really did a pretty good job on it too.

Had I thought of it earlier I could have a good shot of him consentrating on the task.

Thanksgiving

Alright, no pictures, but after working most of the Thanksgiving weekend, we managed to get together with Grandma and have a real thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. Erik wasn't too happy about Thursday's drive-thru and meeting Dad at the park for dinner. That's not what its supposed to be!

After eating and playing some games, we went to the pool only to find it was closed for repairs - it was supposed to be closed starting Monday. We ended up playing pool instead. A first for the boys! Going to need some practise I can tell you that! But they weren't the only ones in need of practise!!

Never Too Late for Halloween?

OK, so halloween is past, most everyone's candy is faded memories by now. I got one of those fake pumpkins and had a little fun a few years back. This is Calvin (of Calvin & Hobbes) as his alter-ego, Spaceman Spiff with a few monsters thrown in for good measure.

This year I got another post-halloween pumpkin and since the boys or at least the other little boy (Erik 'owns' the first one) is way into SpongeBob, this is what I came up with. Oh, and in case you can't tell, since my monitor is so bad I certainly can't, the crabby patty 'monster' has sesame seed eyes, lettuce teeth, a tomato slice tongue, and Bob is holding a spatula and his hat is jumping off his head. It shows up fine on the camera image, so it should work here. If this stinks, I'll work on getting a better shot and getting that up here.

Anyhow, enjoy this little post Halloween treat.

OK, so this is what I've been up to lately. The back room was originally a room off the garage and now houses the pantry, freezer, water heater, and washer/dryer. The closer room which was the pantry/laundry and entry off the garage (and doorway to the back yard) is still an entry/egress (but now with new doors) and houses the stove/micro and fridge. The cupboards are all new, plus one more to go in in front of the stove and one to go above the fridge.

Lots of new water lines - new and moved electric - new flooring - well, you get the picture. Very near to finally finishing this part of the house and moving into what was the kitchen/dining/family room and making it a great room. The cabinets will go into this room from the room you see in the picture, but the existing cabinets separating the kitchen from the family room will be removed and the whole room opened up. Lots of work ahead, but it feels good to have most of the first stage complete!

This is another time consumer - or hobby. Finished this drawing in pen & ink and once I make a few copies I hope to hand color them with color pencil and see how that looks. The bell has that light green-blue patina that I think would give me headaches trying to get right.

Bowling

No pictures (yet) but Erik & I are doing a Saturday morning bowling league, and Erik gets a ball at the end. We are several weeks into already and Erik is doing ok. I am just about to be where I used to be. In fact today I just bowled a 223. Not bad! Erik's average is about 80. Good thing we have the rails up or I'm sure he wouldn' t be anywhere near that (he would be a whole lot more frustrated too). Even though he is missing watching Saturday morning cartoons live, we tape them so he isn't out on his favorite activity. He sometimes wants to get out of the commitment, but a Sprite and a hot pretzel & cheese usually perks him back up again!

Coronado Beach

Instead of yet another day at SeaWorld, we opted for a beach walk at Coronado Island. The famous Hotel Del Coronado is where Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz. Right outside the hotel is the beach.

Well, finally a bit of time to add another post. No ring toss win this time, but plenty of fun. The rotating elevator thing was finally working, so we did that.

Atlantis, Jake's favorite ride, was on and off during the day, but we got to ride once together and bought the photo even though Jakob refused to smile.

Erik petted the stingrays and wasn't afraid to pick up an urchin (we learned that they aren't supposed to taken out of the pool like the starfish)

Jakob made a new friend in line for Shipwreck Rapids. she and her mom walked with us over to the sky ride and Jakob went with them in one gondola while we went in the next one.

And of course, I can't go anywhere without some flower or nature pictures!